Alaska drilling backers dangle deals for votes

Measure needs more backers for Senate passage

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Supporters of oil drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge are delaying Senate debate in a bid to woo enough senators to pass the measure by offering deals on unrelated matters.

In a stab at some old-fashioned political horse-trading, Alaska Republican Sens. Frank Murkowski and Ted Stevens are crafting a proposal to use royalties from the lease of the Arctic refuge to pay pension benefits for steel workers, sources say.

Their hope is that senators from steel-producing states who are planning to vote against drilling in ANWR would be compelled to vote for the amendment if it included aid to their constituents, many of whom are in dire straits.

FACT SHEET ANWR debate at a glance    EXTRA INFORMATION Map: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Several sources say that Murkowski, Stevens and White House aides approached Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-West Virginia, hoping that he would agree and persuade his fellow steel state colleagues to vote to allow drilling in the refuge next week.

"It makes it a very tough vote for the Democrats," said Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pennsylvania.

But some Democratic senators whose constituents include retired steel workers said Thursday they will note vote in favor of drilling.

"Even though I care deeply about my steelworkers, I am not going to go for this," said Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan.

Daschle calls it a 'desperation move'

Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-South Dakota, said the effort "shows how desperate" Republicans are to open the refuge to oil expoloration, the centerpiece of their energy reform proposal.

"It is a desperation move that shows that they don't have the votes on ANWR, and they're trying to do almost anything -- even things they don't believe in -- to get it done," said Daschle.

Added North Dakota Democrat Byron Dorgan: "It makes it look like Republicans only want to help people if it means they can drill for oil in the wilderness."

Sources say Rockefeller is far from agreeing to the deal. He wants a firm commitment from the White House that the provision would not be dropped, and he still must see how much money it would provide.

The Congressional Budget Office is working to provide those numbers, but will not be done until early next week -- which is why ANWR drilling proponents chose to delay debate.

Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-Mississippi, said he thinks there are about 14 senators in play for ANWR over the steel issue.

Sen. John Breaux, D-Louisiana, one of the few Democrats in favor of drilling for oil in the Arctic refuge, acknowledged it will be tough to secure the 60 votes necessary to overcome a filibuster.

Although Daschle is promising to hold a separate vote on helping fund steelworker pensions, it is unclear if the White House would go along with funding the measure without the link to ANWR.

In addition to the steelworkers provision, sources say, proponents are also working on Israel-related issues in the hopes of finding more votes. One idea is to exempt Israel from a law that would prohibit the sale of Alaskan oil abroad.

Even if drilling in ANWR is defeated in the Senate, it was a part of the House-passed energy bill last year. Therefore, it will be part of the House-Senate negotiations on the overall bill.